Duterte issues EO to fast-track defense projects

MANILA, Philippines - To fast-track procurement of key defense projects of the Department of National Defense (DND) aimed at modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its civilian bureaus and agencies, President Duterte issued last week a new executive order (EO) repealing a previous presidential directive.

In lieu of EO No. 235, the President issued EO No. 18 that streamlines the rules and procedures of defense contracts and other purposes.

“EO No. 235 (s. 2003) is hereby repealed. All other orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this order, are likewise hereby repealed or amended accordingly,” Section of 1 of EO No. 18 issued by Duterte on April 7 stated.

Former president and incumbent Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued EO No. 235 in 2003 in line with her government’s program of good governance.

Arroyo’s executive order, however, appeared to be just “on paper,” so to speak, as it did little for the military’s modernization program.

“It has been observed that the implementation of EO No. 235 resulted to the bureaucratic impediments and unnecessary delays in the procurement of important defense projects,” Duterte said.

In Section 2 of EO No. 18, the Chief Executive has empowered the defense chief to identify and institutionalize measures that would effectively monitor the operations of the separate bids and awards committees, which may be created pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 9184, to ensure and promote transparency, impartiality and accountability in procurement transactions.

“All defense procurement contracts, including those presently being processed and/or reviewed, shall hereafter be reviewed and/or processed in accordance with RA 9184, as amended by EO No. 645 (s. 2007),” Duterte declared.

EO No. 645 prescribes the rules and procedures on the review and approval of all government contracts to conform with RA 9184, otherwise known as “the government procurement reform act.”

The DND, now headed by Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, has been scouting for big-ticket military items to modernize the AFP.

These big-ticket items are fast attack gunboats and night flying-capable combat helicopters, among others.

Aside from the AFP, attached defense agencies include the Office of Civil Defense, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.